Nyquist, winless in two starts since his victory in the Kentucky Derby on May 7, worked a mile in 1:38.20 at the San Luis Rey Downs training center on Saturday, his final workout before a start in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing next Saturday.
Trained by Doug O’Neill, Nyquist has not raced since finishing fourth in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 31.
CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome’s autumn schedule is set.
The nation’s leading older horse, California Chrome is being prepared for the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1, a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic there on Nov. 5.
The details of California Chrome’s winter schedule are not as certain. California Chrome is scheduled to have his final start in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28 before going to stud in Kentucky.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Exaggerator turned in his final drill before another meeting with familiar rival Nyquist when breezing five furlongs in 1:00.20 over a fast track Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.
Trainer Keith Desormeaux was in from the Keeneland yearling sale to watch the breeze, which came shortly after the regularly scheduled harrow break at about 8:45 a.m. Eastern. Brian Hernandez Jr. was up for the work, although regular rider Kent Desormeaux will be aboard Exaggerator next Saturday in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia.
Illuminant, unraced since winning the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita in May, might be offered at the Fasig-Tipton November sale in Kentucky but is not certain to be sold, according to Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.
Eclipse owns Illuminant, who won her first stakes in the Gamely on turf for fillies and mares. Illuminant has been plagued by minor ailments that led to her being sent to Kentucky for an evaluation by noted veterinarian Larry Bramlage.
This weekend at Laurel Park, jockey Victor Carrasco is scheduled to resume riding for the first time since injuring his right foot Aug. 7. At the time of his injury, Carrasco was leading the Laurel rider standings.
Carrasco was injured when his mount threw him and stepped on his foot en route from the paddock to the racetrack. Carrasco was cleared to begin riding by his doctors Monday, according to his agent, Tom Stift.
The Pennsylvania Derby and the Cotillion, which top the biggest card of the year at Parx Racing next Saturday, are coming up as must-see events, with Nyquist and Exaggerator on target for the Derby and a salty group of at least four expected to take on the undefeated Songbird in the Cotillion.
The Grade 2 Derby, a 1 1/8-mile race, will have a purse of $1.25 million if both Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and Preakness winner Exaggerator start. The Grade 1 Cotillion is worth $1 million and will be run at 1 1/16 miles.
What a View, the winner of the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile and two other stakes this year, will return from a summer break in the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 8, trainer Kenny Black said.
What a View has not raced since winning the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita on April 9. A 5-year-old gelding, What a View was sidelined with foot problems in the spring and resumed training in July. Black said What a View is a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.
The stakes winners Ralis and Twentytwentyvision are scheduled to start in the $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita on Oct. 2, which could lead to an appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.
Twentytwentyvision, trained by Richard Mandella, won the Rolling Green Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Golden Gate Fields on Sept. 5, his first win in four starts this year. Earlier this year, Twentytwentyvision was second or third in three graded stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Dallas Stewart is undecided on whether to run Forever Unbridled once more before the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, with the 4-year-old filly having recently returned to the Churchill Downs work tab.
“I might run her in the Beldame or Spinster, or I might just train her up to the race,” Stewart said this week at Churchill before heading up Interstate 64 for another session of the Keeneland yearling sale. “It all depends on a few different factors.”
Virtually every record was smashed at a Kentucky Downs meet that ended Thursday as the turf-only track in south-central Kentucky continues to win over fans and horsemen with its huge purses, big fields, and unique brand of racing.
A five-day meet that began Sept. 3 consisted of 50 races that drew all-sources handle of more than $22.5 million, reflecting an increase of nearly 34 percent over the 2015 gross handle for 48 races. The per-day average was slightly more than $4.5 million.
